Jumping balloon



Dec. 1, 1925' 1,563,571-

w. E. HUFFMAN ET AL JUMPING BALLOON Filed March 29,1925

3 /2" a N WW. 7%

(inventor Patented Dec. 1, 1925.

. UNITED STATES} 1,563,571 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. HUFFMAN, CLARENCE F. ADAMS, AND MATT a. CORBETT, or DAYTON,01110.

JUMIPING. BALLOON.

To a whom it. may concern:

Be it known that we, VILLLUE 1G. HUFF-' MAN, CLARENCE F. Annals, andMa'r'r Q.

Connn'rr, citizens of the United'St-ates of America, residing at Dayton,in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain newand useful Improven'ients in Jumping Balloons, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to lighter-than-aircraft. the specific objectbeing to produce a practical jumping balloon, or in other words aballoon adapted to sustain the weight of a single passenger or operatorand embodying means whereby the operator with the aid of the balloon andpropelling mechanism may perfect a,jump from the ground to an altitudeof several hundred feet.

The balloon is particularly useful in jumlr ing over natural orartificial barriers, such as buildings. trees, rivers, chasms and thelike: as a convenient means for quickly obtaining considerable altitudefor photographic and observation purposes; as a convenient and safe wayto practice parachute landings and gives preliminary instructions inlighter-than-aircraft to students; as a convenient means of quickly andeasily ascending to the tops of trees, houses and the like forinspection and other purposes.

\Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel construe tion, combination and arrangement herein fully described,shown and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of thecomplete apparatus Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of thepropeller and motor and its frame;

Figure 3 is a view of the same taken at right angles to FigurefZ;

Figure t'is a detail side elevation of the sling.

The apparatus comprises essentially a gas bag or aerostat 1 which ispreferably pear shape, as shown in Figure-1, or in other words havin" aspheroidal main upper portion and a cownwardly contracted and taperinglower portion terminating in an appendix 2. Theballoon embodiessuspension lines 3 which are preferably contained in pockets in theballoon material and secured at the upper extremities to the flexiblecrown 4 of canvas or other suitable material. The lower extremities ofthe lines 3 are secured to the suspension band or catenary 5 from whichlines (5 extend downwardly to a load or concentrating ring 7 arrangedbelow and adjacent. to the appendix 2.

Extending downwardly fromthe concentrating ring 7 and having its upperend secured thereto, is a normally upright shaft 8 from which theremainder of the apparatus is suspended. Connected to the lower endportion of the shaft 8 by means of an eye 9 is a suspension cable orchain 10, the lower end of which is fastened to an eye 11 at the upperend of a sling 12 which supports the operator, as shown in Figure 1.Mounted upon the shaft 8 is a motor frame 13 of any suitable formationhaving bearings for the shaft 8 and containing a motor shaft 14 which isnormally horizontal or perpendicular to the shaft 8. Mounted upon theshaft 1-l is a grooved pulley 15 around which passes an endless flexibledriving plate 16 having notches or' enlargements 17 at intervals in thelength thereof which engage in corresponding notches 18 1n the pulley15. The

plate 16 extends downwardly within convenient reach of the operator, asshown in Figure 1, who by pulling downwardly on one side or the other ofthe plate 16 may turn the pulley 15 in either direction.

' Secured to one side of the pulley 15 is a bevel-face ring gear 19which engages and drives a pinion 20 on the lowerend of a tubular shaftShy means of bearing collars 22 and 23 on the shaft 8. Fastened to theshaft 21 is a liftingpropeller 24 which operates under the balloon andbeneath the concentrating ring 7 and is located overhead with respect tothe operator and ]L1St above the motor frame 13.

The sling 12 is provided at the bottom thereof with a ballastcompartment 25 to hold sand or ballast of any kind, suitable means, notshown, being provided to release or to empty the ballast therefrom whennecessary. The balloon 1 is provided with the usual-rip panel 26controlled by rip cords 27 extending downwardly to within reach of theoperator where it is secured to the suspension'member 10, as shown inFigure 1. An anchor 28 is attached to the sling for convenient use whenneeded.

From the foregoing-description taken in connection with the accompanyingdraw-- the load is suspended from the concentrating ring and carriedmainly by the crown 4 at the top of the aerostat. By using theparticular shape of balloon shown and the method of rigging suspensionillustrated, a

very light fabric may be used in the make up of the gas bag enabling thesame, when inflated with lifting gas, to be maneuvered in winds rangingup to fifteen or eighteen miles per hour with greater case than is thecase with ordinary spherical balloons, principally for the reason thatthe lower appendage is held down and presents less surface to the actionof the wind in forming pockets on the underside, as in the case of thespherical balloon. The apparatus is designed, not so much to keep theballoon aloft, due "to mechanical means alone, as to assist the operatorin rising quickly from the ground through the action of the legs andbody, as in jumping. With the balloon and load properly weighed off, theoperator, who is suspended with legs hanging freely brings his feetagainst the ground or other support and springs with his whole body fromthe ground, as in jumping. The result is he is shot upward and hisupward climb is assisted by manipulating the propeller operatingmechanism, which is set in motion to produce a downward thrust of thepropeller. Altitudes of 200 feet or more may be made in this manner bymeans of the apparatus described and the descent may be graduallyaccomplished by operating the lift propeller sufficient to prevent anunfavorable or dangerous acceleration. In case a rapid descent isdesired the propeller may be revolved to produce the necessary thrust.

It will be obvious that considerable departure may be made from theparticular mechanism hereinabove described without departing from theprinciple disclosed.

IVe claim 1. In combination with a balloon having a concentrating ring,a normally upright suspension shaft supported at its upper end by saidring, aman-carrying sling suspended from said shaft, a lifting propellerrotatable around said shaft, and means controlled by the occupant of thesling for operating said propeller.

2. In combination with a balloon having a concentrating ring, a normallyupright suspension shaft supported at its upper end by said ring, aman-carrying sling suspended from said shaft, a lifting'propellerrotatable around said shaft, and manually operable means for rotatingsaid propeller.

3. In combination with a balloon having a concentrating ring, a normallyupright suspension shaft supported at its upper end by said ring, aman-carrying sling suspended from said shaft, a tubular propeller shaftsurrounding said upright shaft, a lifting propeller on said tubularshaft, and means operable by the occupant of the sling for impartingrotary motion to said propeller shaft.

l. In combination with a balloon having a concentrating ring, a normallyupright suspension shaft supported at its upper end by said ring. aman-carrying sling suspended from said shaft, a tubular propeller shaftsurrounding said upright shaft, a lifting propeller on said tubularshaft, and means including an endless driving belt operable by theoccupant of the sling for imparting rotary motion to said propellershaft.

In testimony whereof We affix our signatures.

IVILLIAM E. HUFFMAN. CLARENCE F. ADAMS. MATT Q. COliBIJTT.

